Advances in traditional Chinese medicine as adjuvant therapy for diabetic foot

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex disease that often causes multiple systemic complications that have become a major international public health problem. Diabetic foot (DF) is one of the severe and frequent chronic complications of DM due to vascular lesions and neuropathy. DF ulcers (DFU) affect approximately 15% of people with DM and are the leading cause of death and disability. The prevalence and recurrence of DF are worrisome, and morbidity and mortality are also on the rise, which poses a substantial socioeconomic burden. Treating DF is difficult for clinicians and requires multidisciplinary cooperation, combining local and systemic therapy to reduce amputation and case-fatality rates. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has received extensive attention due to noticeable therapeutic effects and few adverse reactions. In recent years, research on DF treatment by TCM has been increasing, and further progress has been made. TCM includes oral medication, injectable preparations, and adjuvant therapy. This article reviews the relevant research on TCM-related adjuvant therapy for DF. We describe current progress in TCM in terms of external application, acupuncture, massage, acupoint injection, foot bath, fumigation, and moxibustion, as well as the mechanisms involved.

Adjacent Fu’s subcutaneous needling as an adjunctive healing strategy for diabetic foot ulcers: Two case reports

“…[ 12 ] Impaired microvascular reactivity diminishes the blood supply to ulcerated areas, [ 13 ] and insufficient vascularization, tissue hypoxia, and a high probability of infection contribute to delayed wound healing. [ 7 ] For these 2 cases, case 2, especially poor glycemic control and inadequate microcirculation, led to severe DFUs. However, conventional treatments such as infection, glycemic control, and local ulcer care failed to promote ulcers healing in these 2 cases, suggesting that a sufficient supply of blood and oxygen is essential for accelerating tissue healing.…”

“…[ 6 ] Adjunctive therapies for DFUs such as acupuncture, massage, and acupoint injection have shown positive effects. [ 7 ]…”

“…[6] Adjunctive therapies for DFUs such as acupuncture, massage, and acupoint injection have shown positive effects. [7] Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN) has been an innovative acupuncture therapy since 1996 (Fig. 1A).…”

Five Traditional Chinese Medicine External Treatment Methods Combined with Mecobalamin for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: A Network Meta-Analysis

“…Tis treatment method fumigates the local skin directly through the drug solution and is absorbed and transmitted through the skin and meridians to stimulate nerves and blood vessels, expand the blood vessels of the extremities, improve the blood circulation and local nerve conduction function, and efectively relieve the clinical symptoms of DPN such as pain, fatigue, and numbness [34]. Studies have shown that TCM fumigation can promote blood circulation, improve tissue oxygen and blood supply, repair damaged nerve cells [35], and inhibit the expression of proinfammatory factors [36] to achieve therapeutic purposes. Acupoint application therapy is to achieve the purpose of treatment through the direct efect of drug absorption in specifc sites and the indirect efect of acupuncture point stimulation to stimulate the qi [37].…”

Knee osteoarthritis: A review of animal models and intervention of traditional Chinese medicine

“…These methods have been practiced worldwide, mainly as adjunctive treatments for chronic pain and diseases. 17 TCM is a common complementary therapy for KOA. Previous studies have shown that TCM is an effective treatment for relieving pain and swelling and improving knee joint function in patients with KOA.…”